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What Do You See? Really…

Sadje: Waiting for your responses.”



What Do You See Prompt
Image credit: Nickola Johnny Mirkovic 
Unsplash

For the visually challenged reader, this image shows an arched veranda,
where multiple pillars support a high vaulted ceiling. The sun is casting
shadows on the wall behind the veranda. At the end of it is a fancy door.

Sadje: “Does this picture [ABOVE] inspire you to write something?


WHEN I WAS SIX OR SEVEN

When I was a skinny girl of six or seven
I played with shadows plenty.

Kick-the-can and hopscotch
with the flattened ones.

I would hoist, slide, and tumble, or with
lanky legs climb over the bulky others.

I’d swing and skip with the moving shadows
and snuggle with the shy and quiet.

I’d romp all day in the sticky breeze never for
a moment complaining–oozing with the hours.

But now that I’ve plumped
to the power of 10
I am taken with the hot animal of my skin,
grateful to swing my limbs
and have them move as I intend,
though my knee,
though my shoulder,
though something

is torn or tearing.*

If I had pillars in a row, I’d ride them all day long
and make pretend the stairs were there to lead me

straight to heaven–If …
if I were light: if I were six or seven.

© selma
*Donika Kelly: The moon rose over the bay. I had a lot of feelings.


Incidentally, I’m decades past six or seven, but I’m still smitten by shadows.
If you care to know more, check out my debut poetry collection in which the
keyword is, you guessed it–shadows. 101 pages on shadows!

In The Shadow of Rainbows

Amazon,
Barnes and Noble,
Goodreads,
OR reach out to me.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 46 Comments

    1. Selma Martin

      Indeed I am the shadow queen 😂 👸 thanks for reading Dawn.

  1. Annika Perry

    Selma, such a poignant and fun capture of your young self enjoying the play of shadows – when life and its needs were so simple and engaging! Xx

    1. Selma Martin

      When life was simple 👏🏽 best time ever.
      Thanks for enjoying the antics here, Annika dear. Sending blessings.

  2. Suzanne

    I so enjoyed this Selma, the fun of shadows, made me smile
    💞Suzanne

    1. Selma Martin

      You oh! did? So happy it make you smile Suzanne. The best! Bless you.

  3. rajkkhoja

    I like your shadow pic WHEN you WAS SIX OR SEVEN
    When I was a skinny girl of six or seven
    You played with shadows plenty.
    Love your poem. Nice write words in poem.

    1. Selma Martin

      😜 thanks for liking everything here, Raj. Blessings. What did you like when you were six or seven? Let me know. 😉

      1. rajkkhoja

        I was played someone shadow,I Like!when I was seven!

        1. Selma Martin

          A universal game. 👏🏽 for children. Happy to know you did it too. 💃🏼

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. So happy to know this. Playful souls connect. Xoxo

  4. michnavs

    Aww… i enjoy reading this Selma..it makes me wanna hop and dance and hop and dance again.

  5. Sadje

    A beautiful and unique look at shadow play Selma. I can imagine a young skinny girl playing with her own shadow. Thanks for joining in.

    1. Selma Martin

      It’s my pleasure Sadje. This one hit the mark precisely.
      Pillow Talk: this is NOT the poem I intended to send in. I worked on another. A cento. But then that night this poem woke me up—I wrote it down—wrote it in notes and later sent it in without editing.
      Wow. Surprised me. 😂 thanks

      1. Sadje

        The muse wanted something else so it made you write it. Awesome

  6. VJ

    How wonderful to remember the whimsy.

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes. It’s fun to remember. I hope I always do. Xoxo VJ xoxo

  7. Maria Michaela

    Good to be young at heart, Selma. I love the playfulness of this one. ☺️🌷

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for thinking it so, dear Destiny. Blessings

      1. Destiny

        my pleasure and blessings your way too 🙏🌷

    1. Selma Martin

      Really?! 🥹 thanks dearly. I think you can do it too. Jump in and show me, Kajal. 😀

  8. Mason Bushell

    You brought the two picture together in a beautiful fanciful way, well done.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for reading Mason. Happy Equinox Day to you. 🤗

  9. memadtwo

    Our bodies unfortunately refuse to stay as young as our minds…(K)

    1. Selma Martin

      Hope our minds could stay young and aware for ever. Thanks, K

  10. Cheryl Batavia

    I

  11. Cheryl Batavia

    Ive always loved playing with shadows, Selma! Lovely photos and poem. ❤️😊

    1. Anonymous

      It was a healthy pastime. We would have been so good together —when we were 6 or 7 😜
      Thanks Cheryl. Xo SELMA

  12. ben Alexander

    Selma, I especially like how your final lines evoke a sense of longing and longing for the past, beautifully conveying the bittersweet nature of growing older.

    Much love,
    David

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